Crocodile hunter causes a stir by backing workplace agreements

Celebrity
crocodile hunter Steve Irwin has put his weight behind Australian Workplace
Agreements (AWAs) by signing up staff at his Queensland Zoo to the scheme. The
zoo has introduced AWAs – which are individual, non-unionised contracts – for
each of its 450 staff. According to the HR manager at the zoo, the AWAs have
helped form a more effective working relationship between management and
employees. The Australian Government has come under fire for using AWAs to
undermine collective agreements and attempting to exclude unions from
workplaces. Despite Irwin’s support, less than 3 per cent of Australian workers
are currently covered by AWAs.